Catholic justice groups call for change in policy

Seven Catholic social justice groups have issued a joint appeal to Government in advance of next week’s budget calling for “a change in direction” in social policy.

“As a minimum” they have called for no further cuts to social welfare, no reduction or means-testing of child benefit and no further cuts to overseas development aid.

They described austerity as “flawed” from economic, social and moral perspectives.

The groups are the Catholic Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace, their Council for Research and Development, Crosscare, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, the St Vincent de Paul, Trócaire, and the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice.